This is an old newel that we turned for a customer in New York state. Actually my partner turned it in Massachusetts. It was to be painted and so we glued up from poplar. The base was 8 inches at the "flats". The top, however, was 7 inches. The top was quite narrow to received the handrail so the installer had to use an up easing to make the connection other wise the handrail would have been too wide on the rake angle. I like the design -their architect made it based on a magazine picture.  The balusters were made for the same job.  This design was common at the turn of the 20th century.